Today we #RememberSocialCare on Social Care Day of Remembrance and Reflection
Today people across the social care sector are coming together to #RememberSocialCare on Social Care Day of Remembrance and Reflection.
This special day has been organised by Â鶹ŮÀÉ in collaboration with 20 partner organisations from across the social care sector. The purpose of the day is to pay tribute to everyone working across social care and their dedication to support our communities through the COVID-19 pandemic.
The day will reflect on the challenges and achievements of the past two years, as well as remember those people we lost. Sadly, 969 social care workers lost their lives as of September 2021.
A special event is being hosted at 10.30am today. The event is being held in London and will be streamed online, with hundreds having registered to join the event virtually.
The Minister of Health and Social Care Gillian Keegan is attending to lead the tributes and thank you messages, and the event will be hosted by Â鶹ŮÀÉ’s CEO Oonagh Smyth.
Representatives, working at all levels from across the sector have been invited to share their own experiences of the pandemic, and personal reflections. Speakers will include Nadra Ahmed, Chair of the National Care Association, James Bullion, former President of ADASS, and Karolina Gerlich, CEO of The Care Workers’ Charity, among others.
Poet Martin Figura has written a special poem dedicated to the social care workforce which he will read at the event.
There will also be a screening of a specially created film, where frontline workers across various social care settings share their experiences of the pandemic. This film will be available after the event on the Â鶹ŮÀÉ website and social media channels.
The event will conclude with a minute’s silence dedicated to our social care workers.
Communities and councils across the country are getting involved in marking the day with various different activities.
Hertfordshire County Council are hosting their own memorial event on the day, including poems and a minute’s silence, while Devon has been calling on people to dedicate a Devon primrose to a social care worker, and West and North Northamptonshire Councils are joining together in leading a service at Abington Park, including tributes led by school children and social care staff.
West Northamptonshire Council’s Stuart Lackenby, Deputy Chief Executive and Executive Director for Adults, Communities and Wellbeing said:
“Everyone living through the Covid-19 pandemic over the past two years will know only too well how care staff, together with key workers, have been vital to providing the ongoing care and support of the most vulnerable people in our communities.
"Their extraordinary hard work, dedication and care will never be forgotten.
“The service is an opportunity for us to all come together to pay our respects to the colleagues we lost to the pandemic and to thank all social care workers in our county for their continued work.
Meanwhile in Warwickshire and Coventry, residents are being encouraged to colour and display a poster to show their support for the day.
In Yorkshire, the day will be recognised during Evensong prayers at York Minster, while the Northallerton County Hall flag will be flown at half-mast in tribute to our social care workers.
Richard Webb, North Yorkshire County Council’s Corporate Director for Health and Adult Services, said:
“This gives people the opportunity to reflect on the last two years, remembering those we have lost, the impact on those left grieving and the enormous efforts made by very many people to keep communities safe.”
In Barnsley, The Library @ the Lightbox will be holding a Proud to Care pop-up stall on Thursday, to provide more information around how residents can begin their journey to a rewarding career in the care sector.
In Wolverhampton, the council will be hosting an event at the Civic Centre on Thursday morning, featuring a period of silent remembrance, the laying of wreaths, a reading by Wolverhampton poet Laureate Kully Kohli, and a period of applause in gratitude for the efforts of the social care workforce during the pandemic.
Becky Wilkinson, Director of Adult Social Services at Wolverhampton, said:
"The past two years have been incredibly difficult for everyone working in adult social care, and we are pleased to be supporting the Social Care Day of Remembrance and Reflection dedicated to all those working within the sector.
"This is our opportunity to remember the people we have sadly lost during the pandemic, and to reflect on the vital work the social care sector has done, and continues to do, to keep some of the most vulnerable people in our city safe and well.
"Despite huge pressures during the pandemic, people working across social care have shown incredible skill and tenacity providing high-quality care in the most trying of circumstances, and it's only right that we recognise their kindness, bravery and dedication in this way.”
Â鶹ŮÀÉ is encouraging as many people as possible to get involved in the day and to share your activity using #RememberSocialCare on social media.
You can also dedicate messages of thanks and remembrance to social care workers on the dedicated on The Care Workers’ Charity Website.
Find out more about the day.
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